Natural resources minister extends offensive to mining opponents

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver expanded his offensive against environmental groups this week to include those who oppose mining projects.

While attending one of Canada’s biggest mineral conferences in Vancouver Monday, Oliver said he would protect Canada’s expanding Asia-Pacific trade in minerals from the same enemies he sees threatening the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline.

“There are some radical environmental groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade,” said Oliver to a crowd attending the 2012 Roundup, a mining exploration conference with potential investors from over 30 countries.

“Their goal is to stop any resource project, no matter what the cost to Canadian families and lost jobs and economic growth — no mining, no forestry, no hydro carbons, no more hydro-electric dams.”

Like the pipeline, Canada’s mineral riches must head towards Asia, Oliver said, adding that a review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency should include merging federal and provincial regulatory regimes to speed that up.

“That was certainly loud and clear,” said Gavin Dirom, president and CEO of the Association of Mineral Exploration of British Columbia, which organized the conference.

While British Columbia’s mineral exploration sector broke records last year, reaching nearly $580 million in investment, the industry still feels there are too many obstacles preventing it from seizing the opportunity of Asia’s economic growth, said Dirom.

Oliver’s anti-environmentalist rhetoric should bear down on the British Columbian government when it comes to opening the province’s vast, unexplored north to mining, Dirom said.

Provincial decisions have locked up around 40 per cent of B.C.’s landmass, due to everything from conservation areas to zones blocked from mineral staking, he said.

“While it is a provincial matter, it’s in the national interest, given that a lot these decision are being influenced by international agencies and NGO’s,” he said.

Teck Resources, the conference’s main sponsor, is an example of the success Canada can have when trading with Asia.

The Vancouver-based mineral and energy company is currently expanding into the oilsands, but still counts coal and copper production for 84 per cent of its business.

Teck has a strong business presence China where its main product, metallurgical coal used to make steel, is always in demand.

The Roundup conference has attracted over 8,000 people this year, who come to gawk at core samples and delve into mine financing estimates, looking for the next big mine.

Despite the new attendance record, the conference has yet to rival Canada’s biggest mining get-together, the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto, which saw 27,700 people last March.

The Roundup focuses mostly on potential mines in British Columbia and Yukon, which saw $309 million invested in mineral exploration in 2011.

There were also some downsides to the conference. A field trip to Alexco’s Bellekeno silver mine in central Yukon was cancelled due to a lack of interest from conference attendees.

Organizers suffered another setback after learning they had booked the conference over Chinese New Year.

“The Chinese New Year limits the amount of Chinese delegates,” said Dirom, adding that there was still a significant presence from the country with the world’s biggest appetite for industrial metals.

During his speech, Oliver said his trip to China next month with Prime Minister Stephen Harper will include a push for more mineral investment in that country.